Use & Care

If you think microwaving popcorn is as simple as pressing a button, you might be in for a surprise. Do it wrong, and you could not only ruin your popcorn but break your microwave as well. 1. Use a second plate The purpose of a microwave plate is to rotate food so it can be… Read more »

Lately we’ve been getting a lot of questions about gas vs induction cooking. Each method has its pros and cons, so the decision depends on your circumstances, budget, and preference. To help you evaluate which cooking method will work best for you, we’ve put together a side-by-side summary of the characteristics of each. Here’s to… Read more »

And How Can I Make Mine Last Longer? Before giving up on your current refrigerator and buying a new one, it’s important to understand how long refrigerators are expected to last, and how to take care of them to get the most value out of every refrigerator you ever own. How Long Do Refrigerators Last?… Read more »

Cleaning your dryer vent at least once a year is one of the most critical home maintenance tasks. No, cleaning it annually is not overkill, and we’ve three reasons why: Dirty dryer vents are the leading cause of house fires in the US. Clogged ducts prevent the dryer from venting the steam from drying clothes,… Read more »

And How Can I Make Mine Last Longer? In the market for a new washing machine? Considering which to buy, or if it’s better to repair your old machine? Washers are meant to last for a surprisingly long amount of time and can be expensive to replace, so understanding your machine, how long it should… Read more »

The facts behind why modern ovens heat up slowly. If you’re reading this article, you are likely worried that something is amiss with your new oven. ‘Preheating shouldn’t take this long,’ you’re probably telling yourself. ‘Our old oven never took this long to preheat, did it?’  Relax, you’re not crazy—many folks are asking the same… Read more »

40% of all food in America is thrown out. You read that right, 40%! And the average American household throws away over a third of their food annually. That can cost a family of four up to $1500 a year. If you’re looking for food waste solutions that will save you money, read on. 1.… Read more »

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: we know we aren’t going to solve any household arguments with this article. People are set in their ways and one article won’t change that. Sorry. But for those of you who are genuinely curious as to how to properly load a dishwasher—i.e. how to load… Read more »

One of the most common issues our customers come to us with is a dishwasher not cleaning well. They ask, “How can I make my dishwasher clean better?”  It can be a complicated answer, because there are many things that influence the performance of your dishwasher. But here are several easy tips, well within your… Read more »

Buy dryer vent cleaning kits at our retail parts counter at 72nd & Dodge in Omaha. Or call the professionals at Hometown Hero Appliance Repair at 402-399-0202 to handle it.

We often focus on taking better care of ourselves with our New Year’s resolutions (for good reason), but sometimes taking care of the things around us makes it easier to take care of ourselves. In that spirit, here’s a new resolution to consider adding to your current list: Take better care of my home. Having… Read more »

By and large, people are unreasonably terrified of food spoilage and store too many foodstuffs in their refrigerator. Which is why most of us could benefit from learning what food can and should be moved from storage in the fridge to your pantry. Truth is, a lot of food, if consumed near the date it was… Read more »

You’ve likely heard at some point — either from the salesman who sold you your refrigerator, a repair tech, or just a know-it-all relative: “Don’t forget to clean your refrigerator condenser or your refrigerator will break down.” Is this fact or overblown fiction? Fact. They weren’t steering you wrong, you do need to clean your… Read more »

How many different laundry detergents are out there? Your guess is as good as ours. 1,000? 10,000?!? Each seemingly more different than the last… What is clear is that choosing the best laundry detergent for your needs is a pain. Never fear! Hometown Hero Appliance Repair is here to save the day! Finding the right laundry… Read more »

I’m not interested in explanations. I just want to see video of a washer exploding. We’ve all heard it before: “Don’t overload your washing machine!” It’s easy to dismiss this advice as a wives’ tale. After all, these are big, powerful machines that run reliably year after year. So it’s perfectly understandable if you’ve ever… Read more »

The first generation of smart fridges is starting to pop up around Omaha, and our own Todd Daganaar, president of Hometown Hero Appliance Repair, was recently interviewed by Angie’s List to get the perspective of a seasoned service professional. Todd’s final take on smart appliances: At this point, only buy smart appliances if you have disposable… Read more »

Maybe you’ve had this experience with a car you’ve owned in the past: it runs like a top for years and years, and suddenly this part fails and that one needs replacement, almost as if they were programmed to start giving trouble after a number of years. Our customers often ask us if this is… Read more »

Buy Washer Magic at our retail parts counter at 72nd & Dodge in Omaha. Trust us, you’ll love the improvement in your washing machine performance following the first clean. For other washing machine troubleshooting tips, click here. Or call the professionals at Hometown Hero Appliance Repair at 402-399-0202.

6 Ways You Are Ruining Your Appliances You probably love your appliances, and you want them to last a long time. The way you’re treating them doesn’t always reflect that. If you want your appliances to live a long and happy life, you should stop doing these things: Not cleaning your lint filter in your… Read more »

One of the most common problems we encounter on dryers is a complaint of no heat or poor heat. Both can be caused by issues with the dryer vent, as well as issues within the dryer. The dryer vent connects to the back of the dryer, and runs all the way to the outside of… Read more »